There is an elephant that everyone is trying to avoid, but it doesn't work: Defender of Mikhail Archbishop

From the very first day of this trial, to put it a bit figuratively, there is an elephant that everyone is trying to circumvent, except of course for the prosecution, but it doesn’t work. This was stated by the defender of the Archbishop of Shirak, Mikhail Ajapahyan, during the latest court session at the Avan headquarters of the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court.

“That elephant is that in 2023 the prosecution found that the same act, with the same words, is not a crime, while in 2025 it is considered a crime based on a video or statement from 2024. From the very first day, it is very clear that this is the most glaring injustice in this case. In general, it is very rare, almost nonexistent, for the public to sympathize with the defendant, but in this case it is different because it is evident from the very first day that there is unfair treatment.”

“In other scenarios, we could discuss whether there is a crime here or not, but in this case, it is impossible because the state has already expressed its position. The same act, although not committed at the same time, but the same act, with the same words and the same actions cannot receive different evaluations twice. Now we are saying, dear people, let’s look and see if these two acts are identical or not.”

“I want to understand the position of the prosecutor, that is, they say, no, let’s not look, let’s not understand, meaning our doubts or the public's doubts should not be dispelled, let’s leave it like that and move on? Even the prosecutor's office has clarified precisely to dispel those doubts, stating that the statements made are not emotional or careless expressions this time. In other words, at least the prosecutor's office has also seen that there is an apparent suspicion here. And it may turn out that a person is judged again for the same act,” he emphasized.